125th Balangiga anniversary honors courage, resilience

TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Philippines — The legacy of the Balangiga Encounter, one of the most significant episodes of the Philippine-American War, continues to shape the identity of Eastern Samar and offers lessons on unity, courage, resilience and service, Cabinet Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said on Monday.

Speaking during the 125th anniversary commemoration of the historic encounter in Balangiga, Eastern Samar that day, Abalos said the town’s famous bells should continue to serve as a reminder of the strength that communities can draw from standing together for a common purpose.

“The bells of Balangiga remind us of a call to resistance. Today, the lesson of this shrine is our unity. Not for war, but for unity, courage, preparedness and service,” Abalos said.

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READ: Balangiga: a history of the town

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Determination

Eastern Samar Gov. Ralph Vincent “RV” Evardone, meanwhile, urged Estehanons, particularly young people, to understand how the province’s history helped shape the character, values and resilience of its people.

The Balangiga Encounter took place on Sept. 28, 1901, during the Philippine-American War, when Filipino fighters and residents of Balangiga attacked American troops stationed in the town.

The attack resulted in the deaths of dozens of American soldiers and triggered a punitive campaign by American forces in Samar, making the encounter one of the most consequential and painful episodes of the war in the region.

At the center of that history are the Balangiga bells, which were taken from the town by American forces following the encounter and brought to the United States.

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Their removal became a long-standing issue between the Philippines and the United States, with Filipino officials, local leaders and communities repeatedly calling for their return.

After more than a century in the United States, the bells were finally returned to the Philippines in December 2018 following years of efforts by Philippine officials, historians, local communities, religious leaders and other advocates.

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Their return was widely regarded as an important moment in Philippine-American relations.

The event was also attended by House Minority Floor Leader Marcelino Libanan, other provincial officials and Balangiga municipal officials led by Mayor Dana Flynch De Lira. /cb